Siege of Yangzhoufan

The Siege of Yangzhoufan occurred in the spring of 191 during the Alliance against Dong Zhuo. Cao Cao's army captured the livestock farm of Yangzhou from the Han forces loyal to Dong Zhuo, defeating the Han general Xun You and his army.

Battle
After capturing the Chen livestock farm, Cao Cao was able to raise a larger army, with his cousins Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan commanding two of his units alongside him. Cao Cao then led his army of 1,043 troops to secure the livestock farms of Yangzhou to the south, hoping to stabilize his southern border so that he could continue his conquest of Chen Commandery from Dong Zhuo's Han imperial army.

Cao Cao's 1,043 troops faced a garrison of 1,562 troops under Xun You and Yu Yong, who set up a defensive position on a hilltop. Cao Cao had his army advanced, and, as he led his men forwards, he received a duel offer from fellow strategist Xun You. Cao Cao agreed, and, after a short duel, Cao Cao vanquished the enemy general. Shortly after, Cao Cao's army met in battle with Yu Yong's men on the hilltop. Cao Cao and his cousins then charged into battle, and they oversaw the utter destruction of the enemy army, robbing them of their uphill advantage by charging them from the rear with their army's cavalry. Cao Cao's army captured 166 prisoners, whom they then recruited into Cao Cao's army to make up for his 336 losses.